“Finish each day before you begin the next, and interpose
a solid wall of sleep between the two.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
The benefits of a good night’s sleep have been extolled by scientists and philosophers throughout the ages.
Yet it is estimated that one in three workers does not get enough sleep to perform optimally on-the-job.
Did You Know
- A recent Harvard study estimated thatsleep deprivation costs American companies $63.2 billion a year in lost productivity.
- The average executive’s productivity and performance while traveling drops up to 20 percent, largely because of insufficient sleep. (Source: New York Times, ‘Battling Jet Lag,’ February 11, 2013)
- While drinking alcohol allows healthy people to fall asleep quicker, it also reduces their overall sleep quality. (Source: Center for Disease Control)
Three Action Points
- Buy a new mattress. The average person spends one-third of his or her life in bed. Yet many people replace their cars more often than their beds.
- Keep technology at bay. Banish your smart phone, tablet, and computer from your sleeping area. These distractions and temptations compete with sleep.
- Avoid bright lighting at night. Research shows that bright lights interfere with the body’s natural biorhythms and sleep clock. So dim those room lights.
When you’re fresh and alert, you’re more creative, positive and efficient. These are all prerequisites for brilliant execution on a day-to-day basis. So give your personal sleep needs the serious attention they merit.